air infiltration: A Cold Gas Fireplace In The Making - 10/11/15 08:27 PM
This is a cold gas fireplace in the making.
Every winter I get more than one call on how cold air is pouring in through a fireplace.
And I have posted more than once on that, with this post being the most recent.
Here is a circumstance seen on a pre-drywall inspection.
Some builders are using the Icynene foam technique where a small amount of foam is sprayed onto an exterior surface, a half inch or so, and then that is followed by regular fiberglass insulation.  Once the air flow is stopped the insulation is dramatically more effective.
This really is a Best Practice!
This builder sprayed … (15 comments)

air infiltration: Stopping Air Flow With Spray Foam - A Best Practice! - 08/22/12 07:51 PM
I see this very seldom - stopping air flow with spray foam - a best practice!
Slowly builders are coming around to the idea that spray foam over the rim joist helps a whole lot toward controlling temperatures between floors.  After all, the area between the floor and ceiling is a space that is typically not insulated.  Rim joists are insulated, but, in my opinion, badly, with a small piece of fiberglass poorly fitted into the space.  Air infiltration is common and poorly managed.
Since that area is so large, not controlling the temperatures in there will do a lot to … (20 comments)

air infiltration: Thermal Camera - The New Smell Detector? - 11/20/09 09:04 PM
On a recent thermal examination of a house I was called on to find the usual - diagnose why rooms are hot and cold, if recent roof repairs stopped further moisture intrusion as intended, and so forth.  It went well. 
I had a very unusual diagnosis to make also.  My client said, "When I am standing at my kitchen sink, I can smell what is going on outdoors.  For example, when my neighbor fertilizes his yard, I can smell it almost immediately."
There are many things a thermal image camera can detect, but I have never used it to diagnose fertilizer … (12 comments)

 
Jay Markanich, Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia (Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC)

Jay Markanich

Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

Bristow, VA

More about me…

Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC

Address: Bristow VA 20136

Office: (703) 330-6388

Mobile: (703) 585-7560

An experienced home inspector's look at current home inspection events and conditions along with his useful recommendations.


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